Bolivian miners dynamite glacier for gold
By IANSMonday, August 16, 2010
La Paz, Aug 16 (IANS/EFE) A Bolivian mining cooperative has been carrying out dynamite blasts on the Altiplano glacier to dig out gold, a move that is causing water supply problems for people, a community leader has alleged.
Eight Indian communities are now threatening to remove the miners from the area by force.
Indian leader Aniceto Gutierrez said miners of Flor de Nevado cooperative detonated dynamite on Mt. Presidente, a tourist site, about nine hours drive from La Paz.
He said the mining activity has been going on for two years, but reached a critical point when they started the blastings.
He added authorities are not doing enough to stop them.
Indians have now decided to use force to dislodge the miners from the snow-covered mountain, La Razon daily quoted Gutierrez as saying Sunday.
Earlier they complained to environment ministry, National Protected Areas Service and Mining Corporation of Bolivia about the blasts but received no response, the report said.
President of mining cooperatives central Teofilo Pari said shrinking of the glacier is due to global warming, and miners are trying to reach a deal with Indians.
–IANS/EFE
